4 February

Pierre

Dame Tartine (or Il était une Dame Tartine) is a traditional French song that evokes the wonderful world of the gourmet tale with its kitschy characters and tasty settings.

The song of sweets

Dame Tartine is a children's song that lists so many good things that little children with a sweet tooth will have their mouths watering. Provided they understand some of the outdated dessert words!

Mulot & Petitjean gingerbread store © French Moments

The palace of Dame Tartine: the Mulot & Petitjean gingerbread store in Dijon © French Moments

Dame Tartine

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

Dame Tartine

The lyrics in French

The original song of Dame Tartine has 7 verses.

Couplet 1

Il était une dame Tartine
Dans un beau palais de beurre frais
La muraille était de praline,
Le parquet était de croquets,
La chambre à coucher
De crème de lait,
Le lit de biscuits,
Les rideaux d'anis.


Couplet 2

Quand elle s'en allait à la ville
Elle avait un petit bonnet
Les rubans étaient de pastilles
Et le fond de bon raisiné;
Sa petite carriole
Était de croquignoles,
Ses petits chevaux
Étaient de pâtés chauds.


Couplet 3

Elle épousa monsieur Gimblette
Coiffé d'un beau fromage blanc
Son chapeau était de galette
Son habit était de vol-au-vent
Culotte en nougat
Gilet de chocolat,
Bas de caramel
Et souliers de miel.


Couplet 4

Leur fille, la belle Charlotte
Avait un nez de massepain,
De très belles dents de compote,
Des oreilles de craquelin
Je la vois garnir
Sa robe de plaisirs
Avec un rouleau
De pâte d'abricots.


Couplet 5

Le puissant prince Limonade
Bien frisé, vient lui faire sa cour
Ses longs cheveux de marmelade
Ornés de pomme cuites au four
Son royal bandeau
De petits gâteaux
Et de raisins secs
Portait au respect.


Couplet 6

On frémit en voyant sa garde
De câpres et de cornichons
Armés de fusils de moutarde
Et de sabres en pelures d'oignons
Sur de bell's brioches
Charlotte vient s'asseoir,
Les bonbons de ses poches
Sortent jusqu'au soir.


Couplet 7

Voici que la fée Carabosse
Jalouse et de mauvaise humeur
Renversa d'un coup de sa bosse
Le palais sucré du bonheur
Pour le rebâtir
Donnez à loisir,
Donnez, bons parents
Du sucre aux enfants !

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

Once upon a time there was a lady Tartine
In a beautiful palace of fresh butter
The wall was of praline,
The floor was of croquet,
The bedroom was
Of cream of milk,
The bed of biscuits,
The curtains of anise.


Verse 2

When she went to the city
She had a little bonnet
The ribbons were of pastilles
And the bottom of it was made of good grapes;
Her little cart
Was of croquignoles,
Her little horses
Were of hot pies.


Verse 3

She married Mr. Gimblette
With a nice white cheese on his head
His hat was of wafer
His suit was of vol-au-vent
His breeches were made of nougat
Waistcoat of chocolate,
Stockings of caramel
And shoes of honey.


Verse 4

Their daughter, the beautiful Charlotte
Had a nose like marzipan,
Beautiful teeth of applesauce,
Ears of cracker
I see her garnishing
Her dress of pleasures
With a roll
Of apricot paste.


Verse 5

The mighty Prince Lemonade
Comes to court her with his curls
His long hair of marmalade
Adorned with baked apples
His royal headband
Of little cakes
And raisins
Brought respect.


Verse 6

One shudders to see his guard
Of capers and pickles
Armed with guns of mustard
And sabres made of onion skins
On bell's buns
Charlotte comes and sits,
The sweets from her pockets
Come out to the evening.


Verse 7

Here comes the fairy Carabosse
Jealous and in a bad mood
Knocked over with one blow of her hump
The sweet palace of happiness
To rebuild it
Give at will,
Give, good parents
Sugar to the children!

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Dame Tartine © French Moments

French Nursery Rhymes

My challenge for the year 2023 is to publish 80 French Nursery Rhymes lyrics and descriptions (list below). Come back as time goes by to discover the new articles:

French Nursery Rhymes Cover by French Moments
French Nursery Rhymes
A la claire fontaine © French Moments
Ah ! dis-moi donc bergère © French Moments
Ah ! Les crocodiles © French Moments
Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman © French Moments
Ainsi font, font, font © French Moments
Alouette gentille alouette © French Moments
Au clair de la lune © French Moments
Au feu les pompiers © French Moments
Au royaume de Diguedondaine © French Moments
Auprès de ma blonde © French Moments
Aux marches du palais © French Moments
Blanc Blanc Blanc belle rose © French Moments
Bon voyage Monsieur Dumollet © French Moments
Buvons un coup ma serpette est perdue © French Moments
C'est la mère Michel © French Moments
C'était Anne de Bretagne © French Moments
Cadet Rousselle © French Moments
Car c’est un bon camarade © French Moments
Chère Élise © French Moments
Chevaliers de la table ronde © French Moments
Colchiques dans les prés © French Moments
Compagnons de la Marjolaine © French Moments
Dame Tartine © French Moments
Dans les prisons de Nantes © French Moments
Dansons la capucine © French Moments
Dodo, l'enfant do © French Moments
En passant par la Lorraine © French Moments
Fais dodo © French Moments
Fleur d’épine © French Moments
Frère Jacques © French Moments
Gentil coquelicot © French Moments
Il court, il court, le furet © French Moments
Il était un petit cordonnier © French Moments
Il était un petit navire © French Moments
Il était une bergère © French Moments
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère © French Moments
J'ai du bon tabac © French Moments
J'ai un gros nez rouge © French Moments
J'fais pipi sur le gazon © French Moments
Je te tiens par la barbichette © French Moments
Joyeux anniversaire © French Moments
La bonne aventure ô gué © French Moments
La danse des canards © French Moments
La légende de saint Nicolas © French Moments
Le bon roi Dagobert © French Moments
Le carillon de Vendôme © French Moments
Le coucou © French Moments
Le facteur n'est pas passé © French Moments
Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments
Le temps des cerises © French Moments
Le temps du muguet © French Moments
Le vieux MacDonald © French Moments
Les filles de La Rochelle © French Moments
Maman les p'tits bateaux © French Moments
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments
Meunier, tu dors © French Moments
Mignonne allons voir si la rose © French Moments
Mon âne © French Moments
Mon père m'a donné un mari © French Moments
Ne pleure pas Jeannette © French Moments
Nous n'irons plus au bois © French Moments
Ô gai, vive la rose © French Moments
Passe passe passera © French Moments
Pirouette Cacahuète © French Moments
Plantons la vigne © French Moments
Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments
Pomme, pêche, poire, abricot © French Moments
Promenons-nous dans les bois © French Moments
Savez-vous planter les choux ? © French Moments
Sur la route de Dijon © French Moments
Sur la route de Louviers © French Moments
Sur le pont d'Avignon © French Moments
Sur le pont du nord © French Moments
Tout va très bien madame la marquise © French Moments
Trois jeunes tambours © French Moments
Un éléphant ça trompe énormément © French Moments
Un kilomètre à pied © French Moments
Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois © French Moments
Une chanson douce © French Moments
Une poule sur un mur © French Moments
Une souris verte © French Moments
V'la le bon vent © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai © French Moments
Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

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